Tuesday, May 31, 2016

For this IWSGI’m thinking really big thoughts. Like many of you, I saw my good fortunes and opportunities dwindle when Borders Books went bankrupt and Barnes and Noble gave the boot to small-pubbed folks like me. I had books all over the US in those stores.

Fast forward to today and now I’m left to my own devices to promote four books with two new ones in the works. Fortunately, I live in a large metropolitan area loaded with tourists and there are many large events to promote my literary wares.

Example Within walking distance of my house is the Mission Viejo 4th of July Street Fair that attracts upwards of 20,000 people each year and I have a 10 X 10 spot. People wander the Street Fair then stake out a patch of grass and wait hours for the fireworks display.

And guess what? They’re either napping or reading.
I have some great ideas and will post pics and results in July’s IWSG. I’ll tell you what worked and what didn’t. But the key is to get people to enter my canopy as almost all other vendors set their tables at the very edge of their tents or canopies and they have all that wasted space behind them.

I’ll use a smaller table at the front and allow people to enter on both sides. Inside three more tables will set up behind me with a flat screen parading images of my books, blurbs, past book signings and fifteen second video clips. I won’t bore you with details now, but definitely check back Wednesday July 6th for pics and results.

And feel free to send big thoughts of a smashing success my way!

Question Have any promotional plans for the summer? Doing any writing or editing? Or are you taking the summer off?

I’ve received numerous emails from readers upset thinking that Salem’s Daughters has ended. They didn’t like seeing Debbie Stevens end this way and made sure I understood their frustration.
But there’s no need to fear, a sequel will soon be here. I recently posted a teaser chapter on my blog HERE.

Then I thought, hey, I should put a teaser chapter at the end of all my books. So I did. I placed the teaser chapter from Salem’s Daughters sequel at the end of Salem’s Daughters, a chapter from Salem’s Daughters at the end of Escalation, a chapter from Escalation at the end of Opening and a chapter from Opening at the end of Breakthrough.

Steve’s Monthly Celestial Calendar Newsletter and Other Fun Stuff I started a monthly newsletter a while ago and a hundred people signed up on the initial announcement with dozens more joining in the weeks following. Things got off to a pretty good start but soon got lost in the hustle and bustle and business of life.

But I’m bringing it back! Folks, this is a really cool newsletter. Trust me. If you liked me science and astronomy posts and the Fun Facts and Did You Know series, you’re going to absolutely love this.

Each month will list incredible astronomical events for that month, incredible sights you can see from your back yard with the naked eye, a decent telescope, or a good set of binoculars. And there’s a section called Kids Korner and Young People to help engage our youth with just how cool our universe is.

To begin receiving your monthly newsletter you can sign up right here right now: